Categorized “Industrial design”

Annaleena’s Clothing Rails collection is beautiful and unassuming. Their boldness sits almost idle while the scale and breadth are the focus. Manufactured by hand-forging Iron, these geometric forms become suspended sculptures. Their presence prevails its functional pragmatism and they become an invited addition to the architecture of a space. Annaleena’s vision is based on the idea that her work is a collection of things where uniqueness and handcraft meet and create. Based in Svartsjo in Sweden, her body of work is mainly sculptural, but at a scale that engages the user and creates an immediate element of interaction. Available in circular, square and rectangular shapes, these pieces embody Annaleena’s vision to live in free creativity and personal expression. Photography courtesy of Annaleena.

Yield Design’s Geo Stand Set adds an elements of quirk. This trio of sculptural anecdotes can be used as paperweights, name cards, photo holders, business card holders or sculptural elements. Made from brushed brass, these geometric pieces are beautifully executed. Yield’s emphasis on no need for compromise sees this series produced with an attention to detail, where sustainability and ethical production are not at odds. This is great to see. Their claim that the buyer should buy for keeps or please do not buy at all is one of boldness and a refreshing response to an ever increasing consumerist culture. Based in St Augustine, and conceived in San Francisco, Yield is a duo to watch. Photography courtesy of Yield.

I was recently introduced to Taiwan based design studio, Chi and Chi. The studio has a strong minimalist aesthetic, designing everyday objects with content and purpose, and with simple functions in their essential forms. A standout design? This striking Polygon watch. The Polygon watch is a modern and unique timepiece with special geometric features in shape. The elements on the watch are designed with simple geometrical forms consistently and unlike the usual round contours of regular watches. The 24-cut case and dial present the time in a distinctive aesthetic way, which enriches the sense of touch as well as the sense of sight. Featuring a 316L stainless steel case housing a precise Japanese movement and a durable genuine calf-leather strap, the Polygon timepiece is a unisex watch available in three colour combinations — silver/grey, gold/black, and gold/brown. I particularly like the grey. Absolutely beautiful.

Stevan Djurovic’s Luna Lamp is a bold and beautiful statement in lighting. Standing, literally, as a beacon of illumination, it also has its own sculptural presence. This piece sees a minimal powder-coated matte finish metal frame, supporting an almost floating bulb-type piece. The bulb itself is also moveable, and its movement is the method by which the light is switched on (demonstrated here). There is an almost weightless quality to the lamp, creating the illusion of it floating. The resulting form is gallant but somehow subtle. Born in Kraljevo, Serbia, Djurovic’s has seen a number of creative collaborations, international design awards and publications. He is currently studying Interior Architecture at the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts in Kragujevac. The Luna Lamp is available through Monoqi.

Filippo Protasoni’s Platone wall light perfectly combines illumination void of distraction. The piece is comprised of a thermoplastic moulded shell which is painted and then attached with aluminium metal wall supports. The slow arcing bend of the mould seems to create a sweeping affect, while indirectly lighting the vertical surface. Protasoni, having studied in both Italy and Norway, and now based on Milan, Italy, has a background in a combination of product and interior design. He has exhibited and won appraise in a number of international design forums, and continues to develop his strong design philosophy. The Platone is a curated piece of form and function intertwining effortlessly. The resulting addition it adds to the space, is secondary, leaving room, space and noise for the life to occur. Photography courtesy of Filippo Protasoni.

Handmade by Brooklyn-based S.D. Evans, these heirloom-quality quilts are made from natural fabrics like cotton, vintage yukata cotton, linen and leather. The designs give a nod to traditional quilting patterns and the very nostalgia of quilts, but Evans has added a bold, contemporary, and beautifully simple aesthetic. The motifs reference nature, daily rituals and personal landmarks — the quilts have everyday and revealing names like Gravity, Migration, Stereo, Library Steps and Two Rivers — offering a glimpse into the designer’s life and inspirations. I love how they work as a fresh addition to urban and country dwellings alike!

Faye Toogood’s Spade Chair is a perfect accompaniment to any considered space. Her work is a celebration of the material itself, and the craftsmanship behind each piece is testament to this. Available in both the chair and a backless stool, this piece helps redefine how we use elements in our environments to enable our use of said environments. Toogood is a British designer, specializing in furniture design, with an emphasis on her furniture and objects, demonstrating a preoccupation with materiality and experimentation. The Spade Chair is evidence of this. The minimal detailing and seamless composition are to be admired. There is an honesty to the rawness and irregularity of the chosen material. Her background in fine arts, and involvement in the magazine industry has meant a pre-existing exposure to product design, differentiating her from other industrial designers. The Spade Chair and its expression of textured materiality is beautiful; considered and demanding of a worthy audience. Photography courtesy of Rory van Millingen.

Oscar Diaz is a London based design studio working in the field of product design. Plain and playful, their designs take inspiration from everyday objects, which by a simple twist become something unexpected and beautiful. Oscar Diaz did exactly this with the Loop bottle opener, designed for American brand, FIELD. Loop is a bottle opener comprised of stainless steel designed as a tool and simplified to its essence, finished in a satin electropolish, and will open bottles for as long as you’re drinking them. A minimal, but perfectly functional and robust bottle opener with a timeless design. Photography courtesy of FIELD.

The Sa, currently being funded through Kickstarter, is an innovative, minimalist, geometric umbrella that reimagines structure, form, and aesthetics, with improved efficiency. I love the modern appearance of the canopy design. Like origami the Sa uses planar tension to generate its form. The inner and outer canopies, made of highly recyclable waterproof plastic, expand and contract in unison to open and close the umbrella. As a result the Sa is lighter than a traditional umbrella since there is no need for an inner, metal, skeleton. The canopy design is great, but also have a look at the internalized mechanism to open and close the umbrella. One simply needs to rotate the bottom of the handle to open the Sa. The spring-loaded mechanism will open the umbrella. To close just pull on the handle. Magnets are embedded along the perimeter of the panels allowing an effortless tight closure of the umbrella after use. Since the umbrella finds its roots in origami the creators Justin Nagelberg and Matthew Waldman created the name “Sa” from a combination of Japanese words: “kasa”(umbrella), “same” (rain) and “sasu” (the verb used to describe holding an umbrella). The Sa is offered in cyan, yellow, magenta, black, grey and...

The OLED Desk Lamp is one of sleek formal function. Its lines are clean and minimal while illuminating the work surface seamlessly. Long gone are the days of an obtrusive lighting element, taking over the desk and its surface. As we become more remote and agile in our working styles and approach, this lamp beautifully emanates this philosophy. It supports this functionality, instead of being loud. The piece itself is made from brushed stainless steel, and its components are all carefully considerate and intentional. Designed by Russian-based Olga Kalungina, who has a background in Art History and Industrial Design, this piece is purposefully quiet. I like this. Photography courtesy of Olka Design.

We love our minimalistic storage solutions and when Thing Industries, a newly established creative studio, recently introduced the Indoor Stoop, it became a must-feature. Indoor Stoop is a high-functioning stoop for seating and storage. Featuring three soft-close drawers with peg board surfaces, the design works well in bedroom or living room corners for storage of clothes, books, or other household accessories. It could even be used as an extra seat or step-ladder. I like that. Measuring 19 inches wide x 24 inches high and 24 inches deep, the Indoor Stoop is not only a well designed, highly functional piece of furniture, it has a striking and sleek aesthetic.

Seattle-based company Up Dog Toys created the Odin, a puzzle dog toy with a modern modular design, with the belief that dog toys can be functional and beautiful without compromising anything. Fun and expandable like Legos, the Odin was carefully researched and designed, prioritising ergonomics, functionality and aesthetics. The puzzle toy has four differently sized holes for treats to be placed inside and spilled out at different rates, engaging dogs on multiple levels, giving them mental stimulation and physical activity. It’s also dishwasher safe and constructed with non-toxic tough materials, providing peace of mind for pet owners – I love that on top of everything it also works perfectly as a stylish piece of home décor! The Odin launched this week as a Kickstarter campaign. Head over to learn more about the product and help fund this unique, innovative endeavour.